Chapter 16
In all the excitement after the meeting, Grace had not been able to see Noah. People had swarmed the platform, wanting details about everything, including —she assumed—who he was going to be doing it with.
She and Vivian had slipped out, and she thought maybe Noah would stop by on his way home. But he hadn't.
Or maybe he hadn't gone home yet. She wasn't sure.
She set her knitting down and got up.
"Would you like a cup of coffee?" she asked Aunt Vivian who worked on a gingerbread house at the table.
"Why don't you take a cup over to Noah. I'm betting he could use it right now."
Her eyes widened, but she didn't know why she was surprised. Aunt Vivian knew her better than anyone, other than maybe Noah. And that was odd, since she'd only talked to Noah a handful of times in her entire life.
"Is he home?"
"He walked by when you were in the restroom. He peeked in, but I waved, and he kept walking."
"I didn't know."
"You didn't ask. I would've told you."
"Let me go put some coffee on. Or maybe hot chocolate. It's kind of late for coffee."
"I think that's a good idea."
Aunt Vivian dabbed a little icing on a rectangular piece of gingerbread and gently set it in place. It was too early for her to go to bed. And Grace felt a little guilty leaving her. One of the benefits of having a houseguest was to have company in the evening, so she could chat and not be alone.
Grace put milk on to heat and then glanced out the window.
She could see Noah pacing in the music room, running a hand through his hair, stopping, and then pacing more.
Obviously, he was as agitated as she was.
It didn't take long for the milk to warm up. She poured it into steaming cups, added some whipped cream on top, and headed for the door.
When Aunt Vivian saw her coming, she got up to open it for her.
"I'm going to head to bed, but I'll leave the living room light on for you and the door unlocked."
"I won't be long," Grace said, truly believing that.
"I wouldn't be surprised if you might be a little bit longer than you think. You guys have some things to talk about."
Grace knew they did. But, she wasn't sure either one of them was ready to talk.
What were they going to say? Their ideas felt like they were half-baked, and now that they were away from the meeting, Grace had no idea why she had stood up and volunteered what she did, on top of what Noah had volunteered.
How were they ever going to pull that off?
And were people going to come?
She swallowed against her doubts and fear and walked across the deserted street, heading toward the music store.
Maybe Aunt Vivian had texted him to let him know that she was coming, or maybe he had a sixth sense, because he was at the front door of the music store opening it before she had time to figure out how in the world she was going to knock with two mugs of hot chocolate in her hands.
"Good evening," she said, feeling a little bit dumb. Maybe he didn't drink hot chocolate, and maybe he didn't want to see her.
"I looked for you earlier in your living room, but you weren't there."
"Aunt Vivian said you went by, but I was in the restroom. I didn't realize it, or I would've come over right away. I assume you feel like we need to talk too?"
"Definitely. And, I feel so much calmer whenever you're around."
His hair stuck up because he'd been running his hand through it all evening, and although his face looked just as serious and businesslike as usual, she felt the same comfort and security that she always did in his presence.
It was funny that he was now admitting that he felt the same thing with her.
"I wasn't sure if maybe you'd like a drink?" she asked, offering him one of the mugs of hot chocolate.
"That smells like hot chocolate, and it sounds like just the thing."
"It is. Chocolate makes everything better, right?" she asked, lifting a brow and stepping inside as he closed the door behind her.
She honestly wasn't sure what could make this better. She had volunteered to perform, and she wasn't even sure she could.
"I need to apologize for not staying. I did look for you, but also.
.. I suppose I was running away a little bit.
I don't know why I volunteered the things I did.
Probably because I really wanted to help the town, which has been so nice and friendly and welcoming to me.
But, I know that I'm not sure I can do what I said I was going to. "
Her words hung in the air as she looked at him, waiting for him to respond.
"Well that makes two of us."
His response was simple, and somehow it made her feel better. He was going out on a limb as well. And he didn't know whether he would be able to do what he said.
"Let's go sit down. Maybe in the music room?"
"That's fine."
"We could go upstairs and sit in the living room, but we might need the piano if we start brainstorming about things." She nodded and he turned and led the way through the store and into the back where the piano sat.
His eyes crinkled a bit as he indicated two comfortable-looking chairs in the corner of the music room. He waited until she chose one and sat down before he sat down beside her.
"These chairs are for parents or siblings or anyone who might accompany kids to their music lessons. I don't usually use them myself, but they're kind of comfortable." He settled down with a sigh, and she smiled.
Just in the few minutes that she'd been here, he seemed like he'd settled down and was much calmer and less anxious. Maybe what he'd said about her helping to calm him down was actually true.
Not that she didn't believe him, but it was hard to believe that they gave each other the same sense of calm and strength.
"It's kind of you to provide such comfortable chairs for your students' families."
"Sometimes listening to someone practice an instrument and learn can be very difficult. I suppose at the very least I could offer them a comfortable place to sit."
"I know that well."
It was true, she did know how badly an instrument could sound before a person got competent on it. "I've heard violins are one of the worst."
"Honestly, I feel like horns would be terrible. They have a loud, sometimes obnoxious sound when they're not played correctly, and it's true the violins screech, but that's not the kind of noise that you can't get away from. A horn, on the other hand..." He shuddered in an exaggerated way.
They laughed together.
She felt more at ease than she had since she had stood up in the community meeting and volunteered herself.
“I’m sorry I jumped in the middle of your idea at the meeting.”
He waved a hand. "No apology necessary. I think our goals are the same. We both love this town and want to help it. And you offered the only thing you knew, and all you had. I admire that. Especially when you're not even sure you can do it. That to me is what bravery is."
She swallowed hard. His words, sincere and serious, made her spine stiffen and her chest feel deeper and bigger. Like maybe she really was brave. Maybe she really could do it. Maybe there really was some kind of character inside of her that made her do things that other people might admire.
"Thank you."
She couldn't think of anything else to say, and those words seemed to cover it all.
She took a sip of her hot chocolate, enjoying the aroma and the comfortable silence as she sifted through her mind, trying to figure out what they needed to talk about. It seemed like everything. There was so much, she didn't know where to begin.
"So, is it okay if I expound on my idea?"
"I'd like to hear it. Also, I assume you meant that you thought I might help you. You'd asked, and I told you I would think about it. I’ve thought about it."
"And?"
"My answer is yes. I'll do whatever I need to. Even though I'm not sure I'll be any good at it, and I have to admit I'm scared."
That made his lips turn up.
"Sometimes we need to do it afraid."
"Yeah. I'm learning that. And to let go of my ideas of perfectionism and just realize that I'll prepare as much as I can, and then allow the chips to fall where they will."
"And pray. We can do a lot of praying between now and then."
"I don't know. It's only three weeks."
"True. I'm trying not to think of the time limitations. But I suppose I should.” He seemed to hesitate, then he said, a little softer, “I wouldn’t have volunteered if I didn’t think you were going to say yes. I can’t imagine doing this without you.”
She nodded and took another sip of her hot chocolate, not knowing what to say.
She was honored. Flattered. And, something warm had started to curl in her stomach.
Something that made her feel like maybe she wasn't the only one who felt.
.. attraction? Was that what it was? She thought maybe, but she wasn't sure.
"All right. This is what I was thinking." He began, and then he outlined in a little more detail what he had talked about during the meeting. She listened with rapt attention, picturing his vision in her head and seeing how that could work. Especially combined with what she had suggested.
"So, there will be at least five mini concerts. We won't be able to teach them a whole pile of songs in three weeks, but everyone could learn at least one, whether it’s singing or bells or instruments."
"And then we'll end with a mini concert of me."
"Exactly." He had long ago set his hot chocolate aside, and now he leaned forward with his arms resting on his knees. "We'll bring in the locals because of all the people who are playing in the small groups. And then we'll bring in non-locals to hear you."
"And you."
"My name isn't gonna bring anyone in. It's going to be you."
"Maybe people will hear you and you’ll get offers."
He shook his head. "I'm not sure I want that. Honestly. Once upon a time I did. I had to give up my Juilliard offer, and that was really hard. But my family came first. Now that they're gone, I could travel all over the place, but I'm not interested in that anymore. Not really."
He seemed like he was thinking about something else, but he didn't say.
"This could be a really amazing thing, but I can't do it by myself."
"And I can't either. But I've already told you I'm scared, and I'm not sure I can."
"I'm confident God will give us everything we need."
"I wish I had that confidence. But I'll trust you, and I definitely trust Him. Just go slow, okay?"
He reached out and took her hand and squeezed it.
He let go immediately. It was just a simple gesture, one of solidarity and friendship.
But, long after she left, and long after she had gone to bed well after midnight, she thought about it.
Thought about working with Noah, his confidence and his ability to get things done.
His protectiveness and his willingness to give up himself in order to be a blessing to others.
Those were things she had always admired, and she'd never found them in such a concentrated way in a man.
She snuggled under the covers and held her hand close.
She didn't know where this was going to go, but she did know that she would enjoy every second of working with Noah Parker.